Summer signings Joe Hawkins, Jake Ball and Tristan Davies have been named in the Scarlets’ starting XV to take on Munster in the BKT United Rugby Championship opener at Parc y Scarlets on Saturday (5.30pm Premier Sport).
Hawkins starts at inside centre, Ball in the second row and Davies at blindside flanker.
Head coach Dwayne Peel has named a strong line-up that includes a number of Wales internationals that featured against Japan this summer.
In the back three, one of those, Tom Rogers, returns after missing the pre-season outings and joins Blair Murray and Ellis Mee in an exciting all-Wales back three.
Hawkins partners Joe Roberts in midfield, while Sam Costelow links up with the evergreen Gareth Davies – who is entering his 18th season with the club.
Up front Kemsley Mathias gets the nod at loose-head prop; last season’s U20s hooker Harry Thomas is handed his first URC start, while Henry Thomas returns from injury at tight-head.
Jake Ball, who begins his second spell in Scarlet, reunites with Sam Lousi in the second row and in the back row, Davies packs down alongside skipper Josh Macleod and No. 8 Taine Plumtree.
The bench includes loan signing Kirby Myhill and fit-again Australian lock Max Douglas, who is set for his first appearance since suffering a shoulder injury against Ulster in March.
Head coach Dwayne Peel said: “We had a fair bit of momentum from the end of last season and it is important we carry that on. When you have a bit of momentum, taste a bit of success, you want more. Having a positive start is vital. We were chasing the top eight last season after a mixed start, if we want to qualify for the play-offs again, we need to hit the ground running against a strong Munster side.”
Scarlets team to face Munster at Parc y Scarlets on Saturday, September 27 (5.30pm)
15 Blair Murray; 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Joe Roberts, 12 Joe Hawkins, 11 Ellis Mee; 10 Sam Costelow, 9 Gareth Davies; 1 Kemsley Mathias, 2 Harry Thomas, 3 Henry Thomas, 4 Jake Ball, 5 Sam Lousi, 6 Tristan Davies, 7 Josh Macleod (capt), 8 Taine Plumtree.
Reps: 16 Kirby Myhill, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Harri O’Connor, 19 Max Douglas, 20 Jarrod Taylor, 21 Dane Blacker, 22 Johnny Williams, 23 Macs Page.
Unavailable because of injury/illness
Ryan Elias, Eddie James, Archer Holz, Jac Price, Will Evans, Dom Kossuth.
Unavailable because of international duty
Marnus van der Merwe
